I like to create stuff – it's just makes me happy

Tag: fountain pen

I am a sucker for snail mail. I always have been. Sending and receiving, who doesn’t enjoy getting something fun in the mail? These are the latest pieces of snail mail I’m sending out for fall. The three images above are both watercolors on watercolor paper. I quickly went back over the three paintings while the paint was still damp with a soft pencil to add a little detail. I love the way the pencil on damp paint deepens the colors. When I paint, I try to work with a limited palette to avoid the colors getting too muddy. I … Continue reading Fall snail mail

This weeks photography theme was green. There wasn’t a specific subject, just green. I didn’t want to just shoot images of leaves or grass, so I really left myself open. After breakfast noticed the way the light was coming in the dining room window and falling across the chair. The lines and deep contrast instantly caught my eye. I knew this had to be one of the shots. While I was at work I noticed the wheelbarrow we have behind the building. I started focusing on the tub of the wheelbarrow, it’s parked upside down and has a beautiful pitted … Continue reading Looking for green and a little sketching

Urban sketching, loose watercolors, flowers…this has been my week so far. While eating my lunch at work yesterday my lunch bag and hat caught my eye. They both hang on a hook next to my desk. It’s something I use everyday at work, but for some reason this was the first time I actually looked at them. I used my new Cognitive Surplus notebook for this bag and hat sketch. The fine nib LAMY Safari fountain pen and a Zebra brush pen provided the line work while I used a handful of Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils for some color. The … Continue reading Lunch bag and flowers

I have spent the last several years looking for the perfect sketchbook. I think I can honestly say I have purchased and tried everything out there. I have two cabinets loaded with partially used sketchbooks. I have also passed along several of my trial and error sketchbooks to a budding young artist. What makes a perfect sketchbook for me? It really comes down to just a few key things. My preferred tools for sketching are pencil and pen sometimes together. I also use both fiber tipped pens and fountain pens, and I will occasionally use bottled ink and or art … Continue reading Could this be the Holy Grail of sketchbooks?

This has been a wild week for weather in our garden. Tuesday morning the temperature was 16°F, by Thursday morning it was 49°F. This morning it’s a more seasonal 37°F. I’ve started using AD Markers again with my sketching. I love these markers, best out there in my opinion. They do bleed through the Landland paper, but markers bleed through everything. It just means I’ll be buying more of these little sketchbooks. Everyday that I get to go outside I feel better. Just smelling the dirt and hearing the sounds is so nice. This morning I could hear several song … Continue reading Spring is slowly coming to the garden

It feels like winter is really holding on tight. I realize we aren’t officially in spring, but once January hits I’m pretty much ready for the snow to be gone and spring to arrive. Wishful thinking, I know. I was looking out the back door on Sunday hoping to see something that would inspire me to draw. But there is only so much you can do with snow-covered grass and bare branches poking up around the garden. As I was standing there holding my pencil and Landland sketchbook, I could hear the tea kettle rumbling away on the counter top. … Continue reading The daily garden journal and a bonus chickadee

I’ve been mixing the AD Markers with my fountain pen sketches again, and I’m loving the results. I was planning to do some pen and watercolor sketches, but I don’t enjoy the results I get with the fountain pens and watercolor paper. I have truly tried every watercolor paper and watercolor sketchbook out there, and I just haven’t found a combo that works for me. My favorite watercolor paper is Saunders Waterford from St Cuthberts Mill. The cold press is great for watercolor, but the texture is a bit too rough for my pen lines. I’m still bouncing around between … Continue reading Sketching with fountain pens and AD Markers

Last week was a very busy week for art. I had several request for custom Field Notes covers, something I really enjoy! I also squeezed in some time for sketching for myself. I’ve been using both the Field Notes and the Leuchtturm1917 journals. They both have their strengths and weaknesses. I find myself favoring the Field Notes because of their size, and I am a sucker for the multiple cover options. The Leuchtturm1917 journals are very nice, the paper is great with pens and pencil, but I still find the size and thickness a downfall. I really doubt I’ll stick … Continue reading A busy week for art

We’ve had some unseasonably warm weather this week in NW Ohio. Last weekend the temperature climbed into the mid 60s, which led to several long walks. This week has also been warm. The forecast calls for more cold and maybe a bit of snow this weekend, but we know spring is coming. Our daffodils are pushing through the dirt and standing tall, the crocus are showing some green, and the snowdrops are blooming everywhere. I took some time this week to make a sketch of our empty garden containers sitting on our deck. It’s been a while since I … Continue reading Daily sketching and looking for spring

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.